NBA Standings 2019: Thunder Send Lakers To Bottom Of Playoff Picture Without LeBron James

The Oklahoma City Thunder (24-13) beat the Los Angeles Lakers (21-17) 107-100 at Staples Center Wednesday night. The victory helped Oklahoma City inch closer toward the top of the overall 2019 NBA standings, and it made L.A. a borderline playoff team.

Paul George scored 37 points, continuing what’s been the best season of his career. His play has the Thunder contending for the No.1 seed in the Western Conference. As the No.3 seed, Oklahoma City is a half-game behind the Golden State Warriors (25-13) and just one game behind the Denver Nuggets (24-11) for the No.1 seed.

Four games in the loss column now separate the Thunder and Lakers. Los Angeles has dropped to the No.8 seed, having lost three of four games without LeBron James. The NBA’s best player is day-to-day as he recovers from a groin strain.

Despite their recent skid, the Lakers are still only four games behind the Warriors. The Houston Rockets (21-15) have risen to the No.4 seed during James Harden’s historic hot streak, though they are only a game in front of Los Angeles.

The No.7 seed San Antonio Spurs (21-17) have the same record as the Lakers. The No.5 seed Portland Trail Blazers (22-16) and No.6 seed Los Angeles Clippers (21-16) are tied in the loss column.

The Eastern Conferences isn’t nearly as congested as the West. While 4.5 games separate the West’s top eight seeds, five games separate the East’s top five seeds.

The Milwaukee Bucks (26-10) and Toronto Raptors (28-11) have the NBA’s best records. It might end up being a two-team race for the conference’s No.1 seed, but the Indiana Pacers (25-12) have entered the conversation with a five-game winning streak.

The No.4 seed Philadelphia 76ers (25-14) are three games behind Milwaukee for the top spot. The Boston Celtics (22-15) are two games behind Philadelphia in the standings.

No one else in the East is above .500.